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The Census, then, shows the Parish to have contained on the 2nd
of April, 1871, 121,100 souls, viz., 49,379 males, and 71,721 females.
The population in 1861 was 70,101. The increase therefore in 10
years, was no less than 51,000, or 73 per cent., and is but very partially
accounted for by the excess of births over deaths during the ten years,
viz., 9341. The larger portion of the increase, therefore, viz., 41,659,
was due to immigration. The increase of population of London
generally during the 10 years amounted to 14.7 per cent., or in
round numbers, 500,000. One tenth of the Metropolitan increase, therefore,
is due to the extraordinary growth of Kensington. The population
of Kensington comprised 25,966 separate families, inhabiting 15,712
houses. The acreage of the Parish beingabout 2,2oo,and5oo acres being
still unbuilt upon, it follows that the density of the population is, in
round figures, 71 persons per acre. One of the most remarkable facts
revealed by the enumeration, is the large excess of females over males,
amounting to 22,342 (equal to 45.4 per cent. of the entire male population),
an excess which is in no way explained by the birth-rate, and
only partially by the death-rate, of the sexes, as will shortly appear.
A correct estimate of the population of any given place is
the necessary foundation of its Sanitary Statistics. In Table
A in the Appendix, therefore, I have prepared an estimate of
the population to the middle of each year, 1861—70, based partly
upon the Census Returns, and in part upon the known number of
inhabited houses in the several years, it being found upon reference to the
Returns for 1861 and 1871, that each inhabited house contains upon
an average 7.5 persons. I believe this estimate to be as near an
approximation to the actual population as can be obtained, considering
that the increase of late years has been so remarkable and of such an
exceptional character. But in any case, it will be understood to form
the basis of the following Statistics.